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I have had a sick little Knight all weekend long, so we have been looking for easy ways to get some Vitamin C in his system. I found this awesome recipe with some of my favorite fruits and added vitamin c. The recipe calls for camu camu poweder which can be found in your local health food store or If you don’t have that you can use Emergen-C !! Try this easy, tasty and cold staving smoothie !!

Camu Camu powder

Camu camu is used for viral infections including herpes, cold sores, shingles, and the common cold. It is also used for eye conditions including cataracts and glaucoma. Other uses include treatment of asthma, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, gum disease (gingivitis), headaches, and osteoarthritis.

This really cool recipe is perfect for one of those refreshing at home spa days. You can also use this is you have any acne and it can be used on the whole body. Its simple and my favorite part is brewing natural chamomile tea to add to your concoction. Check out the recipe below !! Enjoy !!

Cooling Aloe Cucumber Mask

Recipe

1/4 cup boiling water

2 bags chamomile tea

1 whole cucumber with peel, chopped

1/4 cup aloe vera gel (from either a fresh, whole leaf or bottled)

2 drops lavender essential oil

1. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags to make a strong tea.

2. Once the tea has cooled a bit, remove the tea bags, pressing them to extract as much tea as possible.

3. Put the tea in a blender or food processor, add the cucumber, aloe vera and lavender oil, and blend until you have a smooth mixture.

4. To use, spread the entire mixture over your body or the sunburned area using your fingers or a small paintbrush.

5. Leave the mask on for 20 to 30 minutes. You may want to wrap up in an old sheet or a large towel so you can sit or lie down and relax.

After a bout with a cold, flu, or stomach virus it is always recommended to add electrolytes back into your diet. Usually, we will run to the store grab the pedialyte and call it a day. But me being an avid label reader, seeing all the unreadable and unknown substances in it caused me great alarm. So of course through research I found a super easy way to make your own electrolyte drink. Its perfect for the whole family and its great to have on hand just in case. You can use it after illness or after a long hard workout !! Check out the recipe here:

As I sit here coughing as I have been doing for the last 3 weeks, I ran across this easy remedy for making your own cough syrup. It only has 3 ingredients and I have them all in my pantry. I am also a singer so having a cough or cold is never on time !!! Try this simple recipe and lets get our lungs clear!!

Olive Oil:Making a homemade cough syrup using olive oil will help you combat your cough as well as reduce reduce inflammation in the throat.

Honey:Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 110 children, a single dose of buckwheat honey was just as effective as a single dose of dextromethorphan in relieving nocturnal cough and allowing proper sleep. You can use any type of honey you have on hand though.

Lemon: Because everyone knows that lemon & honey is the one of the best throat soother combinations.

3/4 cup raw organic honey

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 lemons – juiced

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a small pot over medium heat until steaming. Remove from the heat & let it cool. Place it into a mason jar or other container with a tight fitting lid. Store it in the fridge for 3 months, or on the counter top for 1.5 months.

Tips:

You can also add Ginger or Cayenne for that warming feeling…also helps to get the congestion out of your head and chest

The news so far has painted a grim picture of the flu epidemic and almost everyone in our house has had some form of cold. We keep ginger,lemons,honey and tea on hand to get us back to feeling one hundred. With having young kids we look for different ways to bring relief and these vapor disks work great. All you have to do is place them in the shower and the vapors will help with head and chest congestion.

You’ll need:

1 cup Baking Soda

1/3 cup Water

Essential oils; eucalyptus,rosemary and lavender

Muffin tin

Muffin liners

Add baking soda to a bowl. Slowly stir in water until a thick paste forms (feels like putty). Spoon your mix into the liners in the muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350. Add 15 drops of each essential oil to each disk.

Make sure to remove them from the liners before using them in the shower

It’s that time of winter where we all know someone suffering from colds, flu or upper respiratory issues. If your like me, prescription and over the counter meds are not appealing because of all the reported side effects. I found that many home remedies are just as effective as these meds. Always consult your doctor before trying anything new especially if your on medication,but most of these remedies can be found in your cabinets and are safe and effective.

Cayenne pepper:

Cayenne can be added to drinks or taken in capsule form and is great for breaking up chest congestion, and shortening the duration of colds

Apple Cider Vinegar: Great for colds and flu.

Turmeric: This is a wonder herb with many other benefits but its great for colds.

This is a recipe that you can make with these ingredients at the first sign of a cold.

2 small or 1 large clove of smashed fresh garlic
1 rounded teaspoon of ground turmeric (organic works better),
As much cayenne as you can handle without burning yourself. You want it to really heat you up but not burn your stomach.
2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar

Simmer the ingredients in 2 to 3 cups of water. You can then sip, gargle and steam your face in the concoction as you create it.

This is a great and natural way to bring relief from your cold and flu symptoms !!

Many years ago I had a friend who introduced me to EFT therapy. It was simple yet effective. It is an accupressure therapy that can help with food cravings, pain,negative emotions and just to feel better overall. During this busy time of year its a great time to take some time for yourself. This is a way you can reboot yourself and you can do it anytime, anywhere !! By using certain pressure points on your body, you basically tap the location while chanting a mantra of positivity. For example…. a proper EFT phrase will state, Even though I have (whatever issue you have) I deeply and completely love and except myself. Tap the location 5-10 times while stating the phrase, take deep breaths while tapping and keep water on hand. Closing your eyes helps you to stay centered and focused . You can use this technique as many times a day as you feel necessary to rid yourself of the issue. From headaches to emotional pain, EFT is a great technique that can help.

Example EFT Session:

EVEN THOUGH I HAVE FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING I DEEPLY AND COMPLETELY LOVE AND ACCEPT MYSELF

The pressure points are as follows:

Top of the head: Use gentle pressure to tap with the tips of fingers using both hands

Eyebrow: Tap right above the hair of your eyebrows

Side of the eye: Tap at the temple with both hands

Under the eye: Tap gently under the bone with both hands

Under the nose: Tap gently under the nose with one hand

Chin: Tap gently with one hand

Collar bone: Tap gently with both hands under the clavicle bone

Under the arm: Tap gently with both hands at an angle to your sides at about 4 inches below your armpit

Wrists: Use wrist on wrist tapping

Side of Hand or Karate Chop point: Use four fingers to tap gently on this area

A relationship is one of the hardest and most fulfilling things that we can experience. To be able to follow your path as well as someone elses can be difficult but it can be done. A relationship is like a fire, it starts out burning bright and hot but the flames can die away if not properly fed. So here are a few ways to get that spark to keep it going !!

Sunset picnics

Ecards

Breakfast in bed

Leave love notes on the mirror

Get tattoos

Plan a secret getaway to a hotel or Bed and Breakfast

Meditate together

Try Kama Sutra

Help your partner reach a dream goal

Make an “I Love You” CD

Give or schedule a massage

Write a heartfelt letter expressing your love and appreciation

Make a homemade Card

Make your partners favorite meal

Take the kids and allow your partner to have some alone time

Write a poem

Talk with your partner and listen

Rose petals on the bed for a romantic night

Invest in lingerie

Kiss,hold hands, hug everyday

Look into their eyes

Purchase their favorite meal

Make a vision board of where you want your lives to go

Go out and have a great night doing things you both love (bowling, clubbing, movies,plays,etc)

Plan a renewal of vows

Plan a second honeymoon

Make your own tradition that you do every month,or year that reminds you of how it was when you first got together

A relationship is spiritual and physical , it takes work on the physical side and the spiritual side just flows. So you must work and flow to make it GLOW !!

I love all different kinds of oils. From essential oils that have beneficial aromatherapy properties to oils that are good for you from the inside out. I have compiled a list of oils that I always have in my home that I love !! Some are exotic and some you can get at your local whole foods market, but all are worth their weight in gold for making us healthy !!

Coconut Oil:

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial and soothing properties.Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight.Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Monoi Oil:

Means”sweet scented oil”in Maohi,the ancient traditional language of the French
Polynesians.The secret of Monoi de Tahiti lies in the delicate 100% natural
blend that is extracted from the rich Tahitian Tumu Ha’ari (Cocos Nucifera) palm
tree and from the local “Tiaré” (Gardenia Tahitensis) flowers.Together they
create a rich emollient moisturizer that penetrates quickly into the skin and
acts as a natural barrier against dehydration,which is a major cause of
wrinkles.You’ll love the remarkable multi-purpose natural properties of Monoi de
Tahiti.You’ll also enjoy the immediate results of Monoi de Tahiti,even after the
very first use.A few drops deep-moisturize and re-hydrate instantly the driest
skin.When applied as a pre-shampoo hair repair treatment,Monoi de Tahiti
restores a lustrous shine to dry or even badly damaged chemically processed
hair.

Argan Oil:

Argan tree is an endemic tree found in Morocco. This tree also grows sparingly in certain regions of Algeria and Israel. The green nuts produced by this tree makes it so special and sought after. These green nuts are used to extract argan oil. This oil is one of the rare types of oil. The production of this oil is limited to just a few regions where these trees grow.

Argan oil comes loaded with essential fatty acids like linoleic acid, which is the precursor for vitamin E. This makes it well-known for its anti-aging, moisturizing and antioxidant properties. It has been scientifically proved that this oil is able to correct the age related deficiencies in skin that causes dehydration and loss of skin elasticity. It is found to contain 700 mg per kilogram of tocopherols that is twice the amount found in olive oil. This oil is a natural antioxidant and can stimulate intracellular oxygenation. This helps neutralize the free radicals and protects the soft tissue. The nutrient content of the skin is restored with the help of topical application. It also has vitamin A, omega 6 and 9 unsaturated fatty acids. These components further add to the antioxidant factor. There are many argan oil benefits that help cure a number of skin, hair and other medical ailments. Let us have a look at them in the following paragraphs.

Olive Oil:

In countries like Greece, Italy and Spain, olive oil benefits aren’t surprising. These countries know the beneficial effects olive oil has on high blood cholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases, earaches, constipation, stomach upset, dry skin and stretch marks.Ancient civilization used olive oil to heal wounds. Today it is considered a good remedy for skin problems and an effective moisturizer.Taken internally, olive oil stimulates metabolism, promotes digestion and lubricates mucous membranes. It can also be applied externally to treat dry skin. Warm olive oil applied to the skin and help relieve internal or external inflammation caused by an injury or disease.

Tea Tree Oil:

Tea tree oil is a natural antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-infection oil. It is effective against nail fungus, ringworm, athlete’s foot, dandruff, acne and many types of infestations including lice, mites and scabies.Tea tree oil is not just soothing and disinfecting, it is capable of penetrating into the lower skin layers with its anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, analgesic (pain killing) and cicatrizant (wound-healing) qualities. It helps the skin to heal by encouraging the formation of scar tissue.

Black Seed Oil:

Native throughout many parts of Asia, Africa and the Arab world, Nigella sativa, or black seed oil, has been used traditionally to treat high blood pressure, allergies and inflammatory conditions. One of its main components, thymoquinone, is responsible for many of the seeds benefits.Black seed oil is used for numerous other conditions, including rheumatism and other back problems, diabetes, coughs, colds diarrhea, headaches, fatigue and impotency, per the Muslim Health Network. The seeds were used traditionally in Roman cooking, and can be dried and used in place of dill.

Anise Oil:

Anise oil is known for its antiseptic and astringent properties. Thus, massaging your body with it every once in a while will give it a toning effect and help in reducing any kind of fungal infections.

Bergamot Oil:

This natural resource of alpha hydroxy acid, which heals damaged skin and reduces inflammation of any kind. This oil is largely used in body washes. However, adding a few drops of bergamot essential oil not only soothes your skin, but also your mind.

Aloe Vera is an awesome plant you can grow at home and that has so many benefits. When I was in Jamaica, (thinking I was a mermaid) ,aloe vera soothed my wicked sunburn. It heals all burns,and other skin infections. This all natural plant is easy to grow and it produces more plants that you can gift to friends and family.

Here is a list of ideas you can use with aloe vera.

Aloe vera plants are available at almost every garden shop or nursery. Unless you live in area with a very mild climate, it’s best to leave your Aloe plant in the pot and place it near a window that gets a lot of sun.Pinch or cut off an inch or so of the tip of a leaf, and squeeze the gel from the leaf.

Skin irritations such as a heat rash, poison ivy or dry skin will benefit from aloe vera.

Use of the aloe vera gel on a consistent basis will allow dry skin to become more elastic and smoother. The gel is absorbed into the skin and will rehydrate the skin and help in rebuilding skin cells

Eczema and psoriasis sufferers benefit from the use of aloe vera, which can lessen the severity of the conditions and stop itching

Apply aloe vera gel to fever blisters and genital herpes to reduce swelling and pain associated with the blisters. Normal precautions will still need to be taken for outbreaks of the herpes virus, as aloe vera will not cure the virus.

Used as a moisturizer on the face, aloe aides in reducing wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes. The facial skin will become smoother and younger looking with the use of aloe vera gel.

People also consume Aloe Vera internally to obtain a number of other Aloe Vera benefits. When taken internally, Aloe Vera can act as a gentle laxative, easing constipation.

Some people also consume Aloe Vera internally for the treatment of Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases due to its soothing anti-inflammatory properties. (Aloe Vera is believed to possess anti-bacterial properties as well.)

Some promising scientific studies seem to indicate that Aloe Vera (taken internally) can help lower cholesterol, fight cancer and stabilize blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.